Portable machines for stripping insulation from wires



March 29, 1955 c. H. .JONES 2,704,856

PORTABLE MACHINES FOR SIRIPPING INSULATION FROM WIRES Filed Dec. 15, 195o 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l INVENTOR. CECI/ H. JONES ATTORNEYS WORK EL" NCH March 29, 1955 c. H. JONES 2,704,856

PORTABLEv MACHINES FOR STRIPPING INSULATION FROM WIRES Filed Dec. 15, 5.950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. CEC/L /7 L/Q/VES HG@ ,hm

A T TOR/ggg United States Patent O PGRTABLE lv-/IACHJNES FOR STRIPPING NSULATN FRM WIRES Cecil H. dones, Mankato, Minn., assigner to Kato Engineering Company, Mankato, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application December 15, 1950, Serial No. 200,890

6 Claims. (Cl. 1S-312) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for stripping insulation from the ends of insulated wires, and more particularly to a portable device which may readily and conveniently be placed in working position adjacent to the work to facilitate and expedite the operation of stripping the insulating material from the end of the wire preparatory to electrically connecting the wires in electric circuits in the course of manufacturing electrical apparatus, or making repairs thereto.

lt is well known that before the end of an insulated wire can be electrically connected in an electric circuit the insulating material must be stripped from the end of the wire to assure a good electric connection, and the present invention pertains to the provision of a machine for accomplishing this operation in an eicient and expeditious manner without damaging the wire, and with the assurance all of the insulation, regardless of type, is thoroughly and completely removed from the wire. Numerous attempts have heretofore been made to provide machines for facilitating the removal of insulating materials from the insulated wires, but to the best of my knowledge, none of these have been entirely satisfactory. There is therefore a need for a machine of this type which shall be capable of quickly and completely stripping insulation from insulated wires in a highly expeditious and eiiicient manner, whereby the cost of thus stripping the ends of wires, when connecting the coils of armatures, stators, or of other electric equipment, or when making repairs thereto, may be reduced to a minimum.

The novel wire stripper herein disclosed is the result of considerable experimental and research work in an attempt to devise a portable machine of this type in which all of the objections present in machines of this type now in use have been entirely eliminated.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a portable machine for stripping insulation from wires adapted to be suspended from a supporting trolley means positioned on an overhead track, whereby the machine may be readily moved about from place to place over a work bench, or over an assembly door where a mechanic may be assembling coils in an armature ring or a rotor, and whereby astripper head or housing containing a pair of rotary brushes is supported at one end of a pair or elongated substantially parallel adjacent tubular members, said housing having an aperture therein and one of said tubular members being movable within said aperture so that the extending tubular members may be quickly grasped by the mechanic and the machine may be applied to the work by moving the housing to the ends of each coil, said housing having an opening communicating with the interior thereof in a zone between said brushes, in which ends of each coil may be inserted, and the tubular members then squeezed to completely strip the insulation from the wire end so that good electric connections may be assured wlthout failure.

A further object is to provide a wire stripper comprising a frame having a motor thereon, and said frame and motor being suspended from an overhead track by suitable means to facilitate moving the stripper head into position to engage the work, and said motor having a driving connection with the upper ends of a pair of spaced shafts positioned within a pair of spaced elongated tubular members, the extending end of one of said tubular members being movable with respect to the extending end of the other of said tubular members, the extending ends of said spaced shafts being equipped with4 small wire brushes so disposed within a stripper head or housing rice that when the end of an insulated wire is inserted into said head between said brushes and said elongated members are moved together, said brushes will quickly strip all of the insulating material from the wire and thoroughly clean the surface thereof so that the ends of adjacent coils may readily be soldered together in a manner to provide good electric connections.V

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described, comprising a pair of spaced shafts each provided at its lower end with a Wire brush and a housing enclosing said brushes and having an opening therein for the insertion of the end of a wire to be stripped of its insulation, and a suction device being connected to said housing for withdrawing the strippings therefrom.

A further obiect is to provide a Wire stripper of the class described comprising a bracket having a motor mounted thereon, and a pair of tubular members being secured to and depending from said bracket and providing supports for a pair of shafts having their upper ends drivingly connected to the motor for direct rotation therewith, and a small stripper head or housing being secured to the lower end of one of said tubular members and enclosing coacting brushes secured to said shafts, the other tubular member having its lower end unsecured to the stripper head housing whereby it may be moved relative to the iixed tubular member in directions towards or away therefrom to vary the stripping action of the brushes on the wire, said tubular members also serving as a hand grip to be grasped by the operator in the operation of guiding the stripper head to the work, particularly when the work is of such a nature that it cannot readily be moved about from place to place.

Other objects of the invention reside in the arrangement of the tubular shaft supporting members, whereby one of said members is secured to the stripper head or housing and the other is unsecured thereto, whereby one tubular member is movable in a direction towards or away from the other tubular member so that when an operator grasps the two tubular members adjacent to the stripper head, he may accurately control the stripping action of the brushes upon the wire to be stripped by simply varying the firmness of his grip on the tubular members; and in the provision of a suction device which may be carried directly upon the apparatus, as for example, on the xed tubular member, which has a suction tube connected to the stripper head whereby the strippings of insulation removed from the wires may be withdrawn from the housing, so as to keep it empty of such strippings which might eventually interfere with the operation of the stripper brushes, should they accidentally be left inthe stripper head; in the provision of such an apparatus which is extremely simple and inexpensive, and is light in weight so that it may readily be moved about from one place to another on an overhead rail with the stripper head positioned at an elevation where it may readily be moved into stripping engagement with the ends of coils which are to be stripped of insulation; and in the provision of such an apparatus which presents the utmost in portability in all directions, whereby it may readily and quickly be brought into engagement with the end of a wire to be stripped of its insulation, whether such wire or wires constitutes the ends of coils or windings being assembled in an armature frame, stator, or other electric apparatus, the overhead support permitting the stripper head to be readily moved to any place in a shop where adequate overhead trackage is provided.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

ln the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined tothe exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

in thedrawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the novel wire stripper herein disclosed showing it suspended from an overhead rail with its stripper headconveniently' located adjacent to an armature supported on a work bench;

matter s0. .that sit in' Figure 2 is a front view ofthe apparatus illustrating the arrangement of the two tuhularmemhers and the opening provided in the stripper head into which the ends of wires to be stripped of insulation are inserted;

Figure 3. is .a seetidnal plan, vieu.' Substantially Qn the line. fet Figure. l,r showing the liexible driving ele*- nieats, between the mater and brush .upper-tine shafts.;

Figure 4 is a sectional. plan. View en the. line lfd 0f Figure .2, .showing the means for constantly urging the movable brush supporting .shaft towards the fined shaft;

Figure 5 is a detail 'sectional view substantially on the line Sfr-Spf Figure 2; .and

" .Figure 6 isa detail seetanal View on the line. .6e-

of-Eieure 4- i: f Y

The novel wirestripner herein disclosed is shown earn: prising a .framefgenerally designated .by the numeral Z, having uprlerlhorizontally disposed side rails 3 and fl: preferably/.oi angle" .iron cross-section A Plate 5 is suitably secured to `the^horizontali1ianges et the. side .rails by such means as welding, as will be understood by refer.- .enee to vFigures 2- and 3- The .frame also cornnriees a vertically disposed plate 5 having .diagonal braces 7 secured .to its lower edge portion, and the upper ends of said braces Vbeing secured to the side rails .3 .and 4 .of the upper horizontal portion .of the frame, as .Clearly illustrated in Figures l. Vand The side railsY are apertured at their ends .opposite from the .end to which the .diagonal braces are secured, thereby to receive pivot Ypins 8 which pivotally connect the frame .to the lower end ,of a suitable hanger 9 The "hanger is provided at .its upper end with a trolley 11 adapted to travel on .an overhead track or rail.12, best illustrated ,in Figures l .and 2. VThe hanger 9 is adjustably secured to the trolley 11 by a threaded rod 13 having its upper end secured .to the ytrolley and `its intermediate portion received in a Vbore provided in the upper end of the hanger 9. A nut 14 is received in threaded engagement -with the rod 1 3, whereby .the `frame 2 may be vertically adjusted upon `the rod 13 to properly position the stripper-'head relative toY the work. A `suitable motor 15 is secured to the vertically disposed plate 6 of lthe supporting :bracket and has drive .pulleys 16 and 17 secured to Aits shaft 18.

An'important feature of .the present invention resides insthe vmeans provided for supporting the stripper head, generally ,designated 4by he numeral 19. The stripper head'comprises a-housing -21 havinga top wall 22, bottom wall 23, trontandback Lwalls 24 .and 2.5, respectively, and .end `:walls 26. An elongated tubular member 27 has its lowerend irgedgto -the top wall `22 of the stripper lhead housing Land its supper `end exteudsV through an aperture .in tthe. shorizoutalplate 1.5 of .the frame 2 Land is xedly secured therein. 1 s

Alsimilar elongated .tubular ,member 28 has its upper end .similarly secured :ingthe plates of the Yframe 2 .an extends .downwardly with :its lQwjeLend extending through an.elongatedslotor.0pni1lg'29 in Vthetop Wall 22 of the stripper `head honusingfas ,best illustrated in Figure 4. YIt will beseen-bv reference sto Figures ,1 and 2 that the Velongated itubularfmertibdrs .27 and -28. are so positioned and of `.Suchezttensicm rthat ythey may be simultaneously grasped by the handof an Yoperator vadiacent the stripper head 1,9 -vvherebyv the lubularfmemberslpmay be V`lleXed vand forced towards :one another.

Shafts -31fand2, arerotatively,supported in the tubu-l lar'members27 jandgz, respectively, and .are provided at their'upperends .with grooved `pulleys 33 and 3 4 which are operatively Connecteditothe drivepulleys v16 and 17 of the motor' by -V.belts`;:3 5 ,and 3 6. Belt 36fis given a half twist to cause shafts 32,10 rotate'in a direction opposite -to shaft 31, Aas clearlygillustrated in Figure 3. 1Suitable brushes s1are-seeured t0 the lower zends Qfshafts 31 sand .32 and :rotate in.onpositesdireetions, as .indicated by the arrows in Figure S.

.An-openings@ issprevided.inahe'front wall-.2.4 0f the f stripperlheadtheusine tO/reeeive the Wires-:t0 be. stripped of'finsulation, -and1twherebyh-agwire en d inserted into ythe opening -38 lwill be properly received between the Vbrushes 7.37., :las illustrated sin Eiaurefwbereby thebrushes .will

quickly and completely stripall insulation from the wire end and'leave the copper Wire bare andado@ oflforeign Y (lily h e soldered ,to 4another s sura de a streed electrical .wir-.e -Qr element with -eonneetiomisfprovided e eenI 1re VAnother importantissimefofttliennventien. resides the lmeans provided for varying the pressure of the stripper brushes 3,7 on the wire. To readily and conveniently thus vary the pressure of the stripper brushes on the wire, tubular member 28 has its 'lower end movably supported D in the slot 29. A spring-biased lever 39 constantly urges tubular member 28 in a direction towards its comple mental tubular member '27.' `Lever 39 is pivoted to the top wall of stripper housing 19 as indicated at 41l in Figure'4. One end of a spring 42 is attachedto the free l0 end of said lever and theiopp'osite end of said spring is shown anchored to the housing 19. by a screw or stud 43. The lever 3,9` hears'agains't'the tubular member ZSfand thus constantly'urgessaid member'towards the tubular member 27, as will be understood by reference to Figure 4. 15 Means is provided forcollecting the strippingsj of insulating material stripped from the ends of the wires. Such means is shown comprising a suction hose 44 having one end attached to a collar 45 provided on the backV wall 25 of. the stripper head, as best illustrated in Fig- 20 urs 5 and 6L The' opposit'ee'nd o f the suction hose is connected to a suitable" ction device A'46, which may be of well Known' constru' n.' Thesuction devicelfmav be cured to`onefo'f the tubular shaft supporting m bers., "idr example nieinber 2.8-

use, "the'novelf apparatus herein disclosed, is $1.15:

nendedfrnu au Overhead freek ".12, as 'illustretedz" Figures lf d 2.' The bracket 2'bein`g' pivotally connected .to die ,leWer' Siiced er. .S147 'Of thehauser .9, may 'freely pivo't'thereo as indiizfated in the full and dotted" lines in gurel; 'The hracket'andall partssupportedthere'by may also he freely rotated about the axis 'of the threaded wie is; "wheels desinnee head .19. may readnyafn jcpvenentlvbe accurately positionedl with respect to the worl `,`"`as'will be understood byV reference to Figure l.

YTo vailord'a'clearer explanation ofthe invention, .there is villustrated i 1-ligure' 1'"`a .work bench 48 having armature 'supportin'g'member .49 rnounted thereon. armature 5 1 is'shofwn 'supported inV lth'z'm'ember '49' f facilitate making repairsfthereto In Figure 1, the arma# ff '1s Wn'having'a .wire end 5 2 projecting `outwardly' om in position Ifo have its insulation stripped there'- Lrom. AFthefstripper head 19 being freely movable relative follie Weils bleuhti, enablesthe mechanic t0 're'ady vfrnove' thefs'triplr ahead into engagement with thewire e hereby the .rapidly rotating brushes 37 in the S PP. i' head Willnstanrly strip ,the insulation from the W1're"and`l'eave ihe end @thereof bare andifreefof `insillicii,1

so .that itfrnay dily'be ,united to auothr'wire .by tsolde/ri ing! with .the fass 'lsob 'n ed. Millen"I'nkng .repairson larger equipment sueltas alternators generators; v'and .the like, which' 'cane i d .being assem edor repaired, and .whereby the ystripper .universal .suuprlt' efor,"wh'ereby"it' may be freely rotated, 'as Vdesired,'andmiy bejconveniently swung .into

or u'tpof .engagementyvith .the workwithout elfen. *It

llyat the same elevation as the ,wire .ends .to 'd las illustrated in Figure l'. To

e elt B16/motor 15 .is preferably Yu`1o u,n1t ed atan ,ang lonitssupporting plate .6, as indi- .eatedin .Figure 2i" ;Ir Atheo`per21`ti 0`n .of the device .the operator grasps .the

7o twetubuler members .2.7eud .28 adjacent .to the'stripper head 1 9.v` Ihe'stripper head is then swung into engagementiwith lthe j-vv1fe'. to ,be stripped; as shown inFigur'es 4. 5 ebythe rotarybr'ushes 37 .engage .ands'tr'ip ns a A nir rn .theyvirel Some insulating rrfiate'rials y diilicult to remove .from fthe copper .novel istripperhe'rein disclosed, such .insulatidn' may r'eudlyaud quickly be rerved dr stripped' from.the \`vi re Without' los's .ofV time' .because .hasconiplete controlA of theappara't'us at ards .Qneanethen thereby ...uref die retaryhrushesnn materiel .may thus be quickly urnoe .that a good electric connection openir'rg` 3.8 inthefsftripper' head is positioned been .acertar insulation resisfismovn,

removed from the wire regardless of the character thereof.

The frame 2 and motor 15 are so mounted on the hanger 9 that the tubular members 27 and 2S are normally suspended in an upright position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, it being understood that the frame 2 and motor are balanced on the pivots 8, whereby the stripper head is always freely movable in any direction. The angular position of the motor on its supporting bracket, as shown in Figure 2, greatly mimmizes wear on the twisted belt 36 and also reduces friction.

The portability of the apparatus makes it possible to readily and conveniently move it about from place to place where the work operations are to be performed. 1n some repair shops and factories, overhead tracks 12 may be provided over all work benches, and over assembly oors, whereby wire strippers may be conveniently brought to the work without loss of time, and without requiring shifting of the work from one place to another, as is now quite common, where conventional equipment is utilized for accomplishing such stripping of the wire ends.

The invention has been found extremely practical in electrical repair shops as it greatly reduces the cost of stripping insulation from the ends of armature and stator coils to be joined together by soldering, because by its use, the time required to strip a wire is reduced to a The novel stripper herein disclosed readily removes all types of insulation from wires, including enamel and other modern insulating materials, which heretofore have been extremely diicult to remove. The suction device attached to the stripper housing collects all strippings, whereby the work bench and ioor may be kept free and clear of such debris. When not in use, the device may readily be maneuvered into an out of the way place by reason of the overhead tracks 12.

In Figure 1 the wire stripping machine is shown suspended over the work bench in such a manner that the stripper head 19 is normally positioned at the front of the work bench. If desired, the machine may be so suspended that the stripper head is normally positioned towards the rear of the bench 48, whereby it will not be in the way of the mechanic when he is working on a job which may not require the use of the stripper: The universal mounting of the stripper is such that it may readily be positioned at any particular location relative to the work bench, depending upon the location of its supporting track 12 relative to the Work bench.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

i claim as my invention:

l. A machine for stripping insulation from f wires comprising in combination an overhead track, a trolley positioned thereon, means pivotally suspending a motor from said trolley with its shaft extending in a substantially vertical direction including a frame, a pair of elongated substantially parallel adjacent tubular members depending from said frame and attached at their upper ends to said frame, a shaft in each tubular member having a rotary brush secured to the lower end thereof, the upper end of each shaft projecting from the upper end of its respective tubular member and each having a belt drive operatively connecting it to said motor, said belt drives from said shafts being connected to the motor for rotation of said shafts in opposite directions, one or" said tubular members being secured to a housing enclosing said rotary brushes, said housing having an elongated aperture therein, the other of said tubular members being positioned in said elongated aperture for movement therein, spring means urging said tubular members together, a suction collection device carried by one of said tubular members and having a communication with said housing, said housing having an opening communieating with the interior thereof in the zone between said brushes and said tubular members being so positioned as to be capable of being simultaneously grasped in the hand of an operator.

2. A machine for stripping insulation from wires in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said belts has' a half twist therein to cause the brushes in the stripper head to rotate in opposite directions, and said motor is angularly disposed with respect to said shafts, thereby to minimize wear in said twisted belt.

3. A machine for stripping insulation from wires according to claim 1 wherein one of said belts has a half twist therein to cause the brushes in the stripper head to rotate in opposite directions, and said frame, motor, and said shafts are suspended in a balanced condition so that the shafts are normally maintained in vertical positions.

4. A machine for stripping insulation from wires comprising in combination an overhead track, a supporting trolley positioned thereon, means pivotally suspending a motor from said trolley including a frame, a pair of elongated substantially parallel adjacent tubular members depending from said frame and fixed at their upper ends to said frame, a shaft in each tubular member having a rotary brush secured to the lower end thereof, the upper end of each shaft connected to said motor for rotation of said shafts in opposite directions, one of said tubular members being secured to a housing enclosing said rotary brushes, said housing having an aperture therein having a dimension substantially larger than the diameter of said tubular member, the other of said tubular members being positioned in said aperture for movement therein, means for biasing said movable tubular member towards said xed tubular member with a minimum bias, said housing having an opening communieating with the interior thereof in the zone between said brushes, and said tubular members being so positioned as to be capable of being simultaneously grasped by the hand of an operator.

5. A machine for stripping insulation from wire according to claim 4, wherein a device is connected to said housing for collecting the removed insulation.

6. A machine for stripping insulation from wires cornprising in combination an overhead track, a trolley positioned thereon, a frame pivotally suspended from a hanger, said hanger having its upper end connected to said trolley, a motor positioned on said frame with its` shaft extending in a substantially vertical direction, a pair of elongated substantially parallel adjacent tubular members depending from said frame and attached at their upper ends to said frame, a shaft in each tubular member having a rotary brush secured to the lower end thereof, the upper end of each shaft projecting from the upper end of its respective tubular member and each having a belt drive operatively connecting it to said motor, said belt drives from said shafts connected to the motor for rotation of said shafts in opposite directions, one of said tubular members being secured to a housing enclosing said rotary brushes, said housing having an elongated aperture therein, the other of said tubular members being positioned in said elongated aperture for movement therein, spring means urging said tubular members together, a suction collection device carried by one of said tubular members and having a communication with said housing, said housing having an opening communicating with the interior thereof in the zone between said brushes and said tubular members being so positioned as to be capable of being simultaneously grasped in the hand of an operator, and said hanger being pivotally connected to said trolley for rotation about a vertical axis whereby said frame and hanger provide a universal support for said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 418,804 Miller Jan. 7, 1890 778,525 Alexander Dec. 27, 1904 1,218,765 Hauer Mar. 13, 1917 1,273,077 Lund July 16, 1918 2,225,200 Ames Dec. 17, 1940 2,580,863 Tuck Ian. 1, 1952 2,619,663 Johnson Dec. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 674,645 Germany Apr. 19, 1939 

